Association Rules 2017-18

1 Title
The Association shall be called the Didcot and District Table Tennis Association
(DDTTA).

2 Affiliations
The DDTTA shall be affiliated to Table Tennis England and abide by the Rules and
Regulations of Table Tennis England and Table Tennis England Approved Laws of Table
Tennis.
The DDTTA shall be affiliated to the Oxfordshire Table Tennis Association (OTTA).
Any league run by the DDTTA shall be known as the Didcot and District Table Tennis
League.

3 Objects
The objects of the Association shall be:
a: To encourage and raise the standard of Table Tennis in Didcot and its
district;
b: To promote and organise such annual championships as may be decided;
c: To function without prejudice and without tolerating abuse.

4 Constitution of the Executive Committee

The policy of the DDTTA, the management of its affairs and the administration of its rules and
regulations shall be vested in an Executive Committee (EC). This shall consist of the President of
the Association, League representative member to Table Tennis England and honorary officers
being elected annually at the Annual General Meeting and the Secretary of each affiliated club.
The officers of the EC shall be the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, General Secretary, Treasurer,
Competition Secretaries, Inter-Town Secretary, Publicity Officer, Coaching Secretary, Rules
Secretary, Fixture Secretary, County Representative, League Development Officer, Trophy
Secretary, Schools Liaison Officer, Handbook Secretary, Welfare Officer, Website Administrator
and Assistant Officers if these posts exist. The EC may co-opt additional officers as required. The
members of the Association shall be its Officers, registered Player Members and registered
Associate Members. A President, Vice President and Life Vice Presidents may be appointed by
election at an AGM.

5 Meetings, Rule Changes & Voting

5.1 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The AGM of the DDTTA shall be held not later than 30th June each year. At least 40 days notice
shall be given. A minimum of nine members of the Association shall constitute a quorum. The
date of the Pre-Season Meeting will be decided at the AGM.
5.2 Special General Meeting (SGM)
A SGM of the DDTTA shall be held whenever the EC think it expedient, or whenever twenty-five
members (or one-tenth of the membership, whichever is the smaller) by individual demand in
writing delivered to the General Secretary, so request. At least 14 days notice shall be given. A
minimum of nine members of the Association shall constitute a quorum. Only business specified
in the written demand shall be discussed at the meeting called in response to such a demand.
Each member attending an SGM shall have one vote.
5.3 Executive Committee Meeting (ECM)
ECM’s shall be held on the first Friday of every month of the playing season unless notified
otherwise. A minimum of three EC members shall constitute a quorum. A club, whose secretary
is not present at an ECM or will be present as an Officer, may nominate a club member to
represent the club. This person will have a vote, but an officer who also represents their club on
the EC is only allowed one vote. No member of a club may vote on any matter directly
concerning that club when it is involved in an appeal. Any other DDTTA member may attend an
ECM as an observer, and may be allowed to join discussion at the Chairperson’s discretion, but
will not be allowed to vote.
5.4 Pre-Season Meeting (PSM)
5.4.1 On the date set at the AGM, an ECM known as the Pre-Season Meeting shall be held. This will
decide the league structure (the number of divisions and number of teams in each division) and
the identity of the teams to be placed in each division for the coming season.
5.4.2 At least 14 days before the PSM, DDTTA affiliated clubs shall provide the Fixture Secretary with
the preferred division of each team they wish to enter into the League. The names of the
probable captains and players must be declared for each team. The Fixture Secretary will provide
suitable forms for this purpose.
5.4.3 Within 7 days after the PSM, clubs shall provide the home night and contact details of the captain
for each team that has been accepted into the league. Subsequent changes to these details, or of
the club secretary or venue, must be notified to the General Secretary who shall inform all club
secretaries of the changes. Club secretaries must acknowledge receipt of such amendments
within 7 days or be fined according to Rule 14.3.
5.4.4 Fees payable to the DDTTA shall be set at the PSM. These are clubs’ affiliation fees and
guarantee payments, and players’ registration fees.
5.4.5 Divisions other than the lowest with a fixture grid requiring teams to play each other twice shall
have no fewer than ten teams. Divisions other than the lowest shall have no fewer than seven
teams.
5.5 Late admission into the League
Teams may be admitted into the League up to one month after the league programme has
started, providing they can be suitably accommodated into the structure.
5.6 Changes to DDTTA Rules
DDTTA and League Rules may be altered only at AGMs or SGMs. All proposed amendments must
be submitted to the General Secretary at least 28 days before the meeting, and will be sent to all
Club Secretaries and EC members at least 14 days before the meeting. At the meeting,
amendments to a proposal may only be accepted with the agreement of the proposer.
5.7 Voting
a) Voting at all meetings shall be restricted to members of the DDTTA Motions shall be decided
on a majority of those voting with each eligible voter having one vote. The Chairperson of a
meeting shall have a normal vote and an additional casting vote if a vote is tied.
b) The General Secretary shall be empowered to solicit a vote on an issue that is time-sensitive
by telephone or email, by stating a time and date by which responses are required. If the vote is
tied or fewer than 50% of the eligible voters have cast a vote at the deadline, the motion shall be
lost but can be put again at a subsequent ECM if still relevant. Decisions reached in this way shall
be reported at the next ECM and be subject to the normal appeals procedure.

6 Finance
6.1 The financial year of the DDTTA shall end on the 30th June. A statement of accounts up to and
including this date shall be published and examined annually. The independent examiner shall be
appointed at the AGM.
6.2 The DDTTA shall pay fees levied by Table Tennis England and the OTTA.
6.3 Clubs shall pay all required fees before their teams play their first matches, otherwise be fined
under Rule 14.5.
6.4 Should the DDTTA be wound up, any assets remaining after discharging all debts and liabilities
shall not be paid or distributed amongst the members of the DDTTA, but shall be transferred to
some voluntary organisation(s) having objects similar to those of the DDTTA.
6.5 The Association shall nominate a League Representative Member of Table Tennis England and
indemnify them out of the assets of the DDTTA should their guarantee be called upon in the
event of the winding up of Table Tennis England.

7 Club Affiliations
The DDTTA shall be open to accept affiliation from any
under the laws of Table Tennis England, provided it shall
wishing to affiliate shall send the following details to the
club, where home ties are played (if different), and the
chairperson, secretary and treasurer.
club in Didcot and its district playing
accept the DDTTA’s regulations. Clubs
General Secretary: the location of the
name and contact details of the club

League Rules
8 Registration of Players
8.1 A club with more than one League team must define its teams as ‘A’, ‘B’ etc., and hereinafter the
‘A’ team shall be termed the highest team, the ‘B’ team the next highest team, etc.
8.2 The names of the players and their details as required by the Fixture Secretary shall be
registered with the Fixture Secretary before they participate in a tie. Their registration fees will be
automatically deducted by the treasurer, from their Club’s deposit.
8.3 The registered division of any player shall be no more than one below that in which he/she last
played, except with the prior agreement of the EC.
8.4 Any player may be re-registered for a higher team without extra charge by informing the Fixture
Secretary before the player participates in a tie.
8.5 Once a player has been re-registered he/she cannot substitute for another team unless he/she
did not play in any ties for the original team. He/she may only be registered again by applying to
the EC for permission.
8.6 Any player having lost their place in the team for which registered and wishing to play for a lower
team, may themselves, or through their Club Secretary, apply for re-registration at no extra cost.
8.7 A player may apply to the EC to be allowed to transfer to another club upon payment of another
registration fee, but only if the move is effected by 31st December.
8.8 EC approval is required for any player to be registered or re-registered within 8 weeks of the
Sunday of the week shown on the fixture schedule for the last league fixture. A separate vote is
required for each individual proposed for registration in this period.
8.9 All affiliated clubs will be automatically entered into the Bidmead Cup. Failure to participate will
incur a fine under Rule 14.2.

9 Composition of a Playing Team

9.1 A team shall consist of between 2 and 4 players all of whom must be eligible to play for that
team and at least one must be registered for that team. 2 or 3 of these, including the registered
player, shall be nominated to play singles. Eligible players are those that are registered for the
team and up to two substitutes selected from other teams of the same club being:
a) Players from lower divisions;
b) One player from the same division with prior approval that shall be obtained by supplying the
name of the proposed substitute to the opposing team prior to the tie. If the same division
substitute is not acceptable, he/she may still play, but his/her matches will not count towards the
tie.
c) No player shall play for both teams in one tie.
d) Any player may be eligible to play not more than twice outside the team for which they are
registered, whether this be for teams in the same division or higher divisions.
9.2 Each team must have two eligible players present to commence play at 1930 hours or some
other time that is mutually agreed by the teams. Failure to comply may result in the offending
team having to request a re-arrangement (including a different time on the same evening) or
postponement, either of which may be refused. Singles matches involving players who arrive
after 20:30 hours can be claimed by their opponents if they wish. Both doubles players must be
present by the time the singles matches have been completed; otherwise the doubles match can
be claimed by their opponents.
9.3 Any team playing an ineligible player will forfeit all matches in which he/she played.
9.4 At most, one substitute may play in a doubles match, and then only when one registered player
is playing in the team.
9.5 Appearances as a substitute will not count towards individual league records.

10 Fixtures (Ties)
10.1 A fixture list shall be prepared by the EC and published prior to the start of the season. Two
weeks only shall be allowed for the completion of all league ties after the last week shown for
league ties in the fixture list.
10.2 Each tie shall normally be played during the week indicated in the fixture list, on the day of the
week nominated by the home team as its home night. It shall be played at the home team’s
venue unless the teams agree to play elsewhere. A tie may be re-arranged to be played before
the scheduled date or up to seven days after the scheduled date by mutual consent of the two
teams.
10.3 Either team may ask the opposing team to postpone a tie beyond the seven days after it is s
cheduled. If the request is granted, the home team shall offer at least two alternative dates.
It is the responsibility of the team that has had the request granted to ensure the tie is played
and to inform the Fixture Secretary of the arrangements.

There is no obligation on any team to accept a request for a re-arrangement or a

postponement.
10.4 There is no limit on how many ties a team may postpone in a season however if a team has two
or more un-played postponed ties, for which they requested the postponement, then they may
not request to postpone another tie without the express prior permission of the EC. Even then
this does not give the requesting team any rights to have their request accepted. Any team
exceeding the limit shall be dealt with under Rule 14.4.
10.5 There is no limit to the number of re-arrangements allowed.
10.6 If a team is unable to fulfill a fixture within the season, it shall be termed a cancellation (see Rule
14.4).
10.7 The Fixture Secretary shall be responsible for compiling league tables and will provide draft end
of season tables to the EC for ratification. These will be issued as final official tables once the
period allowed for appeals has elapsed (see Rule 15).

11 Matches and Results

11.1 In every tie each of the three singles players in the home team shall play one singles match
against each of the three singles players in the away team. One doubles match shall be played
which may involve players who have not played in the singles providing they are registered for
the team. Each match shall be the best of 5 games. Records for each fixture shall be kept by the
home team.
11.2 Umpires shall be appointed by mutual consent.
11.3 When a tie is played and before play commences, the teams shall declare their playing order, the
home team first.

The order of play shall proceed as follows, unless mutually agreed otherwise:
1 v 1, 2 v 2, 3 v 3, 2 v 1, 1 v 3, 3 v 2, 2 v 3, 3 v 1, 1 v 2, doubles.
The result of the tie shall be communicated to the Fixture Secretary, to arrive within 7 days of
the tie being played. The following information must be provided:
 The division of the tie, the date it was played and the names of the teams;
 The names of the singles players and a declaration of the division and name of any substitute
used;
 The tie result, the number of singles matches won by each player and the result of the doubles
match;
 The names of the players used in the doubles match;
 The games scores and winning team for each match.
When the option of sending a result by email is used, the information of the last bullet point may
be omitted, but must be included when a card is subsequently sent. Comments may also be
provided for use by the Publicity Officer.
11.4 When a tie is postponed or cancelled, the Fixture Secretary must be informed within 7 days of
the tie’s scheduled date, whether the tie has been postponed or cancelled, and by whom. The
offending team should also supply information that could influence the Executive Committee to
mitigate fines below the maximum allowed.
11.5 Failure to meet the time constraints defined in 11.3 or 11.4 or to supply sufficient information to
allow the Fixture Secretary to compile league tables and carry out other administrative duties,
will be dealt with under Rule 14.6.

12 Playing Conditions/Equipment
All clubs shall endeavor to produce the best playing conditions. In all divisions except the lowest,
the table shall be lit by a minimum level, striving to achieve sports council guidance 1996 for
grade 4 playing conditions.

13 League Championships
13.1 In the League Championships the points for each tie will be awarded as follows:

Matches won: 10 9 or 8 7 or 6 5 4 or 3 2 or 1 0
Points: 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

13.2 Where teams are equal on points, league positions will be decided on ties won. If these are equal
then matches won shall decide the positions. If both matches and ties are equal the positions will
be decided on the results between the teams.
13.3 Cups awarded for the League Championships shall be perpetual.
13.4 The league shall award trophies to those members of the teams who finish first and second in
each division.
13.5 If any team is withdrawn from the League, all ties, matches and games played during the season
by that team are declared void and the club will be fined (see Rule 14.2). The players of a
withdrawn team are then ineligible to play in DDTTA competitions unless re-registered for
another team (see Rule 8).
13.6 At the end of the season, the EC may award trophies in each division to the players with the best
personal records using criteria it deems appropriate.

14 Disciplinary
The EC will apply Rules 14.2 to 14.6, except in exceptional circumstances.
14.1 Intentionally blank
14.2 Impose a fine of up to £5.00 for the withdrawal of a team in accordance with Rule 13.5.
14.3 Impose a fine of £2.00 for failure to confirm receipt of an amendment under the provisions of
Rule 5.4.3.
14.4 When a tie is cancelled (either because a team fails to turn up, or no date can be agreed within
the season to play a postponed tie, or where a team exceeds the number of authorised
postponements) the EC may take any combination of the following actions:
(a) Award the tie 10-0, or some other score, to either team, or declare the tie void, or give
permission for the tie to be replayed if both teams consent and can agree an alternative date;
(b) Impose a fine of up to £10.00 on either team;
(c) Deduct points from either team;
(d) Order a team to pay reasonable out of pocket expenses to the other team.
14.5 Impose, in the case of violation of Rule 6.3, a fine of £5.00 on a club for failing to pay its team
fees on time.
14.6 Impose a fine £2.00 on the responsible team’s club for failing to provide information to the
Fixture Secretary as required by Rule 11.5.
15 Appeals
If a club or individual is aggrieved by any decision made by the application of any DDTTA rule, its
secretary shall have the right to appeal to the EC and to state a case within 30 days of the club
being informed in writing of the decision. The General Secretary shall be informed of an appeal
and shall notify the interested parties of the date of the hearing.

General Rules
16 Care of Trophies
All perpetual trophies are the property of the DDTTA. All holders of trophies must sign for them
and must return them to the Trophy Secretary one month before their next presentation. These
trophies must be clean and in good condition, otherwise the holder’s club will be liable to a fine of
up to £10.00 together with the cost of any restoration required.

17 Inter-Town Leagues
17.1 Teams shall be entered in Inter-Town Leagues or similar competitions at the discretion of the EC.
17.2 The team or teams shall be selected from regular playing of the DDTTA by the EC.
17.3 Players having represented the DDTTA are eligible to wear the DDTTA badge.

18 Closed Championships
18.1 Should the EC decide to organise Closed Championships these shall be open to entry to all
players who have fulfilled one of the following qualification requirements before the closing date
for entry during the current season:
(a) Have played as eligible players in at least three league ties;
(b) Are members of an affiliated club and attended at least three coaching sessions provided by
that club.
18.2 Competition Rules will be decided by the EC.

19 Competitions
Should the EC decide to organise other competitions (such as the Bidmead Cup, Handicap Shield,
Divisional Championships), the rules shall be approved by the EC and published at the same time
as the entry forms are distributed. The responsibility for the organisation shall be vested with a
Competition Secretary.

20 Matters Not Covered by the Rules

In the event of any question or matter arising, which is not covered in the Rules, such question
or matter shall be dealt with by the EC.

Age category definitions

VETERAN: Over 40 on the 1st January (born on or before 1st January 1978).

JUNIOR: Under 18 on the 31st December (born after 31st December 1999).

CADET: Under 15 on the 31st December (born after 31st December 2002).

Affiliation/Registration fees 2017-2018

DDTTA Affiliation fee per team - £6.00
DDTTA Affiliation per club if a club has no teams - £5.00
DDTTA Registration fee per player: Adult £6.00
DDTTA Registration fee per player: Junior £2.00
DDTTA Registration fee per player: Cadet £1.00
DDTTA Guarantee payment: £5.00 for first team + £2.00 for each additional team.
 Various ITTF Rule Changes &
Useful Information
For attention of ALL PLAYERS

RACKET COVERING RULE:

Racket coverings must be legal as determined by reference to the current LARC (List of Authorised
Racket Coverings). This list is produced by the ITTF twice yearly, in April and October.

Pdf files can be found on the old ITTF website using the following link:
http://www.old.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf1.asp?category=rubber

It is the duty of every player to ensure that they are playing with a legal rubber, as all matches
played with an illegal rubber could be subject for forfeit.

Some ITTF Rules:

1. Accidental double hits of the ball are allowed. A double hit is when the ball strikes any part
of the racket hand below the wrist before or after the ball strikes the racket, or if it strikes
the racket twice. If the ball strikes any other part of the body before or after the racket, a
foul is called.
2. A player is not allowed to change their racket in the middle of a game, even at the change
of ends, unless it has been broken accidentally during a game.

Please visit www.ittf.com to see the full Laws of Table Tennis, which you will find under
“Regulations”. You will also be able to find full lists of banned Table Tennis equipment.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE

TABLE TENNIS ENGLAND MEMBERSHIP:

You must have completed/renewed the Table Tennis England license form to
be eligible to play in the DDTTA. Any member found playing in a league
match without Table Tennis England membership will have their results
struck from the records until they have completed the relevant forms.
To do this go to:
www.tabletennis365.com/TableTennisEngland/Membership/Login

Once you have completed this, please contact the Fixture Secretary and
supply relevant details.

BAD LANGUAGE:
All players must refrain from using bad language during matches.

The league understands that players can sometimes get ‘emotional’ during a
game, but offensive language will not be tolerated.

Thank you.